jamesp
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Post by jamesp on May 5, 2014 16:42:13 GMT -5
Thanks for your expertise, Scott. Guess that explains why there aren't any Eastern Diamondbacks around here (duh moment), although we are fairly close to the range they inhabit. Moccasins are within our range. I don't believe in killing snakes, even venomous ones...just carefully walk away--the snakes usually give a fair warning to back off. And the cottonmouths are west of me. I live right on that line Scott posted. Go across the Chattahoochee River and presto, Moccasin land. But infrequent. But central Florida sure has them in high density. I am happy that they are not on my land. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2014 10:57:21 GMT -5
I wonder what is in the 'V' where Jim lives that keeps the moccasins south and west? Jim, is there a habitat change?
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on May 6, 2014 11:49:33 GMT -5
I wonder what is in the 'V' where Jim lives that keeps the moccasins south and west? Jim, is there a habitat change? That boundary totally beguiles me Scott. It does not follow rivers, piedmont/mountain, piedmont/coastal dilineations. The slope to the west of Atlanta goes from mountain to peidmont to coastal plain. Moccasin territory has always mystified me around Atlanta. And I have spent a lot of time in wetlands on each side of it's territory. I have seen them 10 miles to the west. Never seen one on my farm. Saw 4 water snakes yesterday...guessing that I have seen 5000 water snakes in 20 years on this farm. So I am satisfied I do not have moccasins. and the county agent said they are 5 miles west on the other side of the river further irritating me. I pay no attention to the water snakes and grab them anytime. Often throwing them near my wife to get a rise out of her. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2014 12:01:49 GMT -5
Noooo.... not flying water snakes! Imagine the shower she will get if the wrong end flies front!!??!?!!  |
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Post by gingerkid on May 6, 2014 12:17:29 GMT -5
I wonder what is in the 'V' where Jim lives that keeps the moccasins south and west? Jim, is there a habitat change? I wondered, too, and had to do a little internet research. I think it has to do with the 'fall line' in Georgia? From wikipedia: "In Georgia, it is found in the southern half of the state up to a few kilometers north of the fall line with few exceptions." (which is why I wonder why the Eastern diamondback doesn't hang out in these parts--we are 2 counties outside of their range--found a website that documents sightings in our state for the ED) "The Piedmont and the Coastal Plains are separated by the Fall Line, an imaginary line marked by waterfalls and rapids, where rivers abruptly descend from the upland terrain to the lowland. This line also divides the diverse species of birds, trees, and plants found in Georgia." www.dca.state.ga.us/countysnapshotsnet/statesnapshot.aspxFound this on the Eastern Diamondback and the canebrake rattler at Jekyll Island, Georgia that y'all might find interesting: www.jekyllisland.com/snakes/ |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2014 12:33:42 GMT -5
interesting. The fall line does describe the eastern half of the 'V' going up the east coast. It fails to define why moccasins can go northwest up into Alabama.
That Jekyll island stuff is cool! Love mark and recapture studies.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on May 6, 2014 13:58:29 GMT -5
Exactly. The west side of the state is more my stomping grounds. so I am always crewing over into Moccasin turf.
Never concerned about FL. Moccasins are happy there. I hang out around the water and hate the dry woods.
I have seen Indigos on my lot too.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2014 15:17:26 GMT -5
Indigos in Florida or Georgia?  |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on May 6, 2014 22:45:05 GMT -5
Indigos at Ocala National forest. never seen one in Georgia. I was the longest wild snake I have ever seen.
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Post by gingerkid on May 7, 2014 12:00:54 GMT -5
I believe the Indigo snake is protected in Georgia. Didn't know that they were also found in Florida. I haven't seen one though. Pictures of them show beautiful iridescent scales.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2014 14:12:17 GMT -5
Eastern Indigos are Federally protected as "Endangered" under the endangered species act.  |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on May 7, 2014 21:36:05 GMT -5
My neighbor filmed the Indigo at Florida camp. It was big news in the neighborhood. The water table is too high on the property and gopher turtles have no boroughs there. I thought they may use gopher boroughs too. The ferneries in Pearson FL. are in gopher turtle territory. I own two 10 acre lots there and the turtles stay away from the ferneries and borough on my lots. About the highest density of them I have ever seen. Much of the town is covered in shade houses. The Osceola (wild) turkeys are left alone. I think they are beneficial for bug removal. Big flocks.of them, no fear of humans.The old ferneries grow under large live oaks and are majestic looking dark forests with lush fern under story. The leaves are harvested for cut flower arrangements. Shipped all over. It is a big airplane town. I think from air shipping cuttings. They pull gliders up for public rides for small fee.   |
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ash
spending too much on rocks
Prairieville, Louisiana
Member since July 2012
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Post by ash on May 9, 2014 18:40:32 GMT -5
Got a question. I was talking to my mother this past weekend in North Louisiana. For some reason, snakes came up, mainly how my catching them as a kid used to piss/freak her out lol. She said she knew someone that used to make a living catching snakes to harvest venom and such when they were younger. The conversation came around to what she called a puff adder. Now I don't know exactly what she is talking about, but she said that he did. I did get out of her that this is a snake, that is large, non-venomous and comes in mostly grey hues, but the one she saw as a kid was reddish. My first guess was a Coachwhip, cause they can be reddish and will get after you with a vengeance, but she said no, not a coachwhip. SO...I have no idea the snake she meant. She did say that it would raise up and expand it's upper region, like a cobra I'm assuming, and bluff and bluster. Any ideas?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2014 19:27:05 GMT -5
The Puff Adder of Louisianna and other regions of the south. The Eastern Hog Nose Snake Heterodon platyrhinos. They eat toads and frogs. Special teeth for popping the toads who puff up to avoid predation. Those teeth also deliver a venom that is no wimp. They come in many colors and patterns.  This one is "Puffing"  |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on May 9, 2014 22:36:04 GMT -5
Hog Nose is common around here. I heard they have some poison in their venom. They seem docile to handle.
Always think they are a pygmy at first. Don't like pygmy's.
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ash
spending too much on rocks
Prairieville, Louisiana
Member since July 2012
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Post by ash on May 9, 2014 22:41:47 GMT -5
thanks. I have read that we have them in the area, but have never seen one.  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2014 11:21:45 GMT -5
Hog Nose is common around here. I heard they have some poison in their venom. They seem docile to handle. Always think they are a pygmy at first. Don't like pygmy's. They generally do not bite in self defense. BUT, you do not wanna get bit. The venom is pretty strong. The teeth that deliver the venom are in the back of the jaw so getting venomized is a rare occurrence. Need more Rocky Shoal's reptiles pics. |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on May 10, 2014 13:30:57 GMT -5
Big crop of 12-14 inch banded stink snakes. and a few adults. Darn water snakes have hawk eyes.Seen two 24" kings. Oh, and a black racer that out ran me. More grey tree frogs this year. Seen 3 snappers about a foot long. One of my urban customer's property is bordered by a 20' wide creek. Loaded w/softshells, often about 15 sunning on sun facing sand bank. Blink and they are gone, must have turkey eyes. In a couple of months they will be laying eggs there. Of all the creeks and small rivers around here I have never seen such a monoculture of soft shells. Some are big. i knew that Hognose has a specific diet. The bladder puncture device is brutal. And a big crop of these speedsters that eat a new strain of a large ant that acts like a S. American ant. Gotta figure that ant out. It seems to have paths and mounds covering 3 acres now. Those fence lizards will perch in their trail and feed like a glutton, just sit there and let em walk up to them.  |
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